Crowley eager to build on winning return to rowing
By Daire Walsh
LUCAN’S Denis Crowley was delighted to make a winning return to competitive rowing when securing gold in the Single Sculls event at the recent British Masters Championship.
Held at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham, Crowley made light of a COVID-19 enforced absence to earn top honours in an impressive time of 4:08.
Denis Crowley at the 2021 British Masters
While the pandemic meant it was not quite the same as before, it was a victory to cherish for the Commercial Rowing Club member.
“That was great because it was the first event I was in since COVID came in and it just happened to be a pretty big one” Crowley told The Echo.
“The Brits opened up quicker than we did, so it allowed me to go over there. It was good to win, that’s for sure.
“It was restrictive. There were very few spectators and you were restricted to just one event. Normally you could do two. They’re quite strict, believe it or not, on COVID in the rowing circles. It just meant that there would have been a lot less people there.
“It’s normally a two-day event, so they just said only a one-day event this year and you can only enter one event. It was still a good high standard and a great day’s racing” he added.
Having waited so long for a return to the Masters circle, Crowley now has a busy schedule in front of him.
There is the prospect of competing at the World Championships in Austria at the beginning of September, but before then, his main focus will be on the Henley Masters Regatta across the water this weekend.
This tournament will take on a different dimension to that of the British Championships, but Crowley is ready to embrace the challenge that lies ahead.
“I’m feeling pretty good. It has been good weather and it has been easy for me to train. I feel in good shape. Henley is different because at the British Championships it was seven boat lane racing. In Henley it’s just two boats for each round. You go through your rounds head-to-head each time.
“I could get a really good guy in the first round and maybe that might be it. Or maybe I’ll go all the way to the final. If I get to the final I’ll be happy enough and if I can win it, it will be great.”
In addition to competing in masters rowing, Crowley is also a senior coach with the Islandbridge-based Commercials. He has seen a great sense of relief amongst his fellow club members that rowing is starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel.
“Right now we’ve got 20 senior guys competing for the senior championship events, which will be in August” he said.
“It’s going to be a short season for everybody. For the senior rowing fraternity, the middle of August will be their final race of the year.
“Hopefully COVID will go away for a little bit and we can start getting into proper training again in October or November time” he added.
